Permutation-lock



(No Model.)

H. C. GRIFFIN.

PERMUTATION LOCK.

Patented Jan. 11, 1887.

iJNiTED STATES PATENT @rricn.

HEBER. C. GRIFFIN, OF FRANKLIN FALLS, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

PERMUTATION-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 355,088, dated January 11, 1887.

v Application filed May 525, 1886.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HEBER O. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin Falls, in the county of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Permutation-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

4 My invention relates to permutation-locks; and it consistsof the peculiar combination and novel construction and arrangement of devices, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide devices which can be applied or connected to an ordinary or anypreferred form of permutation-lock, to adapt the lock to be opened without using the eyesas, for instance, at night or by blind personswhich devices shall also be very simple and durable in construction, and cheap and inexpensive of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a permutation -lock constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line as x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of my improvement.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the case of an ordinary or any preferred class-as, forinstance, such a lock shown in a prior application filed by me on the 11th day of February,

B designates the sliding locking-bolt, which is adapted to be retracted within or expelled beyond the case A by means of a spindle having an arm which works in and impinges against the edges of the slot of the bolt.

D designates an arbor suitably journaled in the case and carrying the tumblers E, which are slotted, as at e, and are adapted to be brought in line with each other to permit the rear end of the bolt to enter the slots thereof; or whenthey are thrown out of coincidence, the rear end of the bolt abuts against their peripheries, and is thus prevented from longitudinal play.

F designates the rotary index of my invention, which preferably comprises a steel disk Serial No. 203,242. (Nearest) of suitable size for strength and durability,

and G the detent that imparts a slight shock of sufficient strength to the index to be plainly felt by the operator. The index is fitted on the extreme-reduced end of the arbor D,whicl1 is exteriorly threaded, as shown, and on this threaded end works a binding-screw,k, which bears against the outer face of the disk or index, and forces it into firm engagement or contact with the outer rigid tumbler on the arher, so that the index rotates with the arbor and the rigid tumbler thereon. inclosed and concealed within the case of the lock, and at its periphery it is provided with a series of notches or serrations, f, in or against which the detent G takes to impart a slight The index is i shock when it descends or is forced from the another form of detent can be employed than the one shown hereinas, for instance, a pivoted spring-actuated pawl-and hence I do not desire to confine myself to the exact construction shown herein.

The rotary index is carried by the arbor that actuates the tumblers, and the notches or serrations therein correspond in number to the number of the combination.

The outer end of therotary spindle is provided with an enlarged end or head, to which is secured a crank-handle, H, which serves to indicate the correct position of the tumblers.

V In the practical use of a permutation-lock of the class shown herein, with my invention applied thereto, it is first necessary-to rotate the crank-handle a sufficient number of times in one direction to insure that all of the tumblers rotate with the arbor, and the crank occupies a vertical position, with its lower arm horizontal and below the arbor. The crank is now slowly rotated in one direction to bring the notch of the second tumbler in line with the notch of the first tumbler, and then-in the reverse direction, to cause the notch of the third or remaining tumbler to align with those of the two previously-adj usted tumblers,when the locking-bolt can be easily retracted in the case by the spindle, the index rotating with the spindle and the first tumbler and the detent riding upon and successively entering and disengaging the notches therein, to impart a slight shock, which serves to guide the operator in adjusting the arbor.

It will thus be seen that I provide an improved loek,which can be operatedat night or by blind and other persons without the use of the eyes.

I would have it understood that I hold myself at liberty to apply my improvements to permutation-locks of any class, for the purpose herein described, and to make such changes in the form and proportion of parts as fairly fall within the spirit of my invention.

I am aware of Patent No. 42,778,1"or permutation-padlocks, which shows a shaft suitably held or supported in a case, the notched tumblers j ournaled thereon and provided with radial projections that extend through thelockcase, so that each tumbler can be turned or rotated independently of the others, and a spring bearing against the teeth ofthe tumbler to produce a clicking sound, and thus inform the operator of the position of the tumbler, each tumbler having a radial slot into which 3 5 the locking-bolt is passed when it is retracted within the case in order to unlock the lock.

My invention differs from this device from the fact that I employ a rotary index, which is secured rigidly to the arbor or shaft, so as to 1,0 rotate therewith, and a yielding detent normally in contact with the notched periphery of the index. This index and the detent is supplemental orauxiliary to the other operative parts of the lock, and can be applied to any class of permutation-lock that has rotary slotted tumblers. These rotary tumblers are carried by the same arbor as the index, and they have the radial slots which align with each other to receive the inner end of the locking-bolt. The rotary indexis merely provided with the notches in its periphery and is free of the radial slots; and in order to prevent the locking-bolt from coming in contact with the index, and thereby render the lock inoperative, the index is secured on the shaft out of the path of the locking-bolt and to one side ofthe slotted tumblers.

In the practical operation of a lock constructed as shown in the patent hereinbefore referred to, the spring serves as a click, which can be easily heard by the operator and any person standing near the safe; but in my improved lock the detent only acts upon the rotary index with sufficient force to impart a slight shock to the index and arbor that is plainly felt by the operator, and which does not produce a noise or sound of sufficient intensity to be audible to the operator or other person standing near the look.

I am also aware .of Patent No. 82,104, for permutation-locks, which shows a shaft suitablyjournaled in the case and having openings therein for the reception of a key, the radially slotted and notched tumblers fitted on the shaft and a spring-arm provided with a projecting lip which takes into the teeth of the tumblers to produce a clicking sound which is audible to the operator. In my improved lock the sense of feeling is used to aid in opening it, and the improvements can be applied to any class ofrotary-tumbler looks, I the index and detent being arranged within and concealed by the lock-casing and out of the path of the locking-bolt.

' I am also aware of Patent No. 232,9l4, in which a permutation-lock is shown that comprises a shaft which is journaled in the case, and has a gear-pinion which meshes with a gear-wheel that is arranged to rotate on'a stud also supported' in the lock-case. Another 0 gear-wheel is journaled on' the stud and arranged on the side of its fellow-wheel, and be tween the Wheels is arranged two arms which are engaged with the peripheries of the wheels and loosely supported on the stud to turn with 5 their respective wheels, a locking-bolt which has a tongue which fits into one of a series of radial slots in one of the gear-wheels to prevent movement of said bolt, and a pawl having a rounded lip which engages with one of :00 the gear-wheels. In this case the gear-wheels are not supported on or carried by the arbor operated by hand, but are fitted on a separate shaft, and hence the shock imparted thereto will not be as perceptible as if the tumblers were carried by the shaft, as in my improved device. I

I am further aware of Patent No. 254,450, for permutation-locks, which consists of aseries of independent arbors, each carrying a tum- 1'10 bler having a single radial slot and another tumbler having a series of radial slots, into which successively takes the enlarged head of a spring-actuated bolt to produce a clicking sound, by which the operator is enabled to de- I15 termine when the combination is set and to prevent retrograde movement of the parts.

In my improved device the rotary index is applied to the arbor, to turn therewith, and ar-- ranged on one side of the slotted tumblers, so :20 7

that it is out of the path of a sliding lockingbolt, and the latter can very easily and readily enter the slots of the tumblers without hinderance from the index, and a vibrating detent is normally pressed into contact with the notched periphery of the index to impart a slight shock thereto and to the arbor by which it is carried, and thus enable the operator to set the combination without the use of a dial and without danger of the combination becom-. 1 o ing known to a person standing near the look.

I attach especial importance to the notched solid index, applied to and rotating with the arbor at one side of the slotted tumblers and a out of the path of the locking-bolt, and a vibrating detent normally in contactwith the notched periphery of the index, as therein lies the gist of my invention. The improvements can be applied to any form of permutation-lock having a sliding locking-bolt and the slotted rotary tumblers; and the combination of the lock can be changed as easily and readily as if the index and detent were omitted, the said parts not interferingwith the adjustment of the tumblers in changing the combination in any manner whatever.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a permutation-lock, the combination,

with a rotary arbor, the fast and loose tum-,

blers carried thereby and having the radial slots and a sliding locking-bolt, of a rotary index provided with the notched periphery and fixed to and rotating with the arbor, and arranged thereon to one side of the tumblers and out of the path of the locking-bolt, and a vibrating detent normally in contact with the notched periphery of the index to impart a slight shock thereto and to the arbor, to be plainly felt by the operator,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a permutation-lock, a rotary arbor, the fast and loose tumblers thereon having the radial slots and a sliding bolt, in combination with a rotary notched index carried by the shaft and arranged thereon out of the path of the movement of the locking-bolt, and avibrating detent comprising the coiled spring, the arm extending outwardly from the spring, and the lip at the free end of the arm and normally in contact with the notched periphery of the index, substantially as .described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HEBER O. GRIFFIN.

Witnesses:

GEo. H. QUAID, GEO. W. GRIFFIN. 

